Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-02-25
Death Of a Prominent citizen

Death of a Prominent Citizen
VIM. H. Farquhar, died at his residence
near Sandy Spring, this county, OH Thurs
day Of last week, aged 70 years.
During his life he was one of the mos
active citizens of the county, and his life II
worthy of imitation.
William Henry Farquhar was the son OF
Amos Farquhar, of Carroll county, Nd, and
Mary Elgar, of Montgomery county, Md
| One of his mothers brothers was John Ell.
gar, a civil engineer and converter with
Ross Winans in perfectingr railroad ma
chinery in the early days OF their develop
ment, and another was Joseph Elgar, Com
missioner of Public Buildings under Presi-
dent Andrew jackson. The Farquhars
were of Scotch origin and of strongly mark
ed characters. Some of the name are promi-
nent in Naval circles and Others (of the
branch Of which we are speaking) have
been in public life
Amos Farquhar was farmer in comfort
able circumstances, but was induced to en-
gagged in cotton manufacturing in York, Pa,
where VIM. Henry Farquhar was born in
1913. The venture was Improbable and
the family returned 10 Maryland and set
tied In Montgomery county, when the sub.
JOSb vi biio ohCtCh was II yCdio Vi oSSt ohU
here he has since resided. He had two
brothers, DR.. Charles Farquhar and DR..
Granville Farquhar, and four sisters, one Of
whom married Benz Hallowell, and one
Richd S. Kirk. His wife was daughter Of
Isaac Briggs, n friend Of Jefferson, who APP
pointed him to assist in Surveying the then
new Louisiana purchase.
Mr.. Farquhar was student from earliest
years, and numerous anecdotes arc to Id OF
his precocity and fondness for books. He
completed his school education with his
brother-in.law, Benz Hallswell, in Alexan-
dria, Va, and afterwards assisted him in
his large and influential school, He was
destined for the law, but threatened weak
ness OF eyesight caused an abandonment OF
this design. He became then a farmer and
teacher and was soon prominently identified
with the educational interests Of Mont
gomery In connection with his sister, Mrs.
Kirk, he re.established the Fair Hill Board
ing School, where there were, at one time,
as many as fifty boarders, He was Pres-
dent OF the Board of School Commissioners,
County Surveyor, civil engineer oil the
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
Railroad, President of the Sandy Spring
Lyceum, one of the original Directors in
the Mutual Fire Insurance Company OF
Montgomery county, n candidate for the
State Senate IN opposition to Hon. WIN.
Lingan Gather, an active and influential
member vi the Grange, a Director in the
Sandy Spring Bank, and taker Of the census
on two occasions. These various positions
indicate the value placed upon his services
by his fellow citizens and his interest in
every thing tending to advance the welfare
of his county. His opinion was frequently
sought by his neighbors, who had great con-
tidence in his judgment. He was sue
cesstul farmer, having, without capital, con-
verted barren and forbidding tract into
one OF the most productive and profitable
farms in the community. The home, build
ings and surroundings are II striking con
trast to former years.
His views were always rather in advance
of his friends, particularly ON the subjects
OF African slavery, education and reforms
generally, but without bgotry, granting to
others the liberty of opinion that he claimed
for himself He was iorcibie writer, ex
pressing himself fiuenty with the pen.
In character he was pure and childlike
OF unimpeachable integrity, Of the strictest
veracity, and of II warm social disposition.
One who has known him intimately for
many years remarked, that he had never
heard him utter word that might not have
been said in the presence Of vile or daugh-
ter He was a member OF the Society Of
Friends.
There are five sons aud one daughter
Arthur is prominent manufacturer Of
York, Pa, Henry is in the Office OF the
Coast Survey, Edward in the Library Of the
Interior Department in Washington, Halo
well in York, Pa, and Allan retains the
home place
lie was buried at Sandy Spring in the
presence Of IA large conceurse of friends and
neighbors.